Cybercrime is one of the most severe threats facing businesses and government agencies today. The Ponemon Institute calculated that the average annual cost of cyber crime across 56 organizations in 2012 was $8.9 million. This number has undoubtedly increased over the past five years. The institute also revealed that two-thirds of organizations admitted that their own defenses were insufficient to thwart a targeted cyber attack. This raises a serious question:If organizations know that cyber crime is increasing, why do they still not have sufficient defense protocols in place to protect themselves?

We have all encountered instances of cyber-scams, such as spam emails and viruses that attack private and commercial computer networks daily.Oftentimes, software is installed in hopes to safeguard systems -however, this does not always work. The security of information systems extends beyond firewalls, detection systems and other protective software – it involves the people operating those systems.

With the increase in threats and incidences of cyber-attacks,there is a more apparent need for stronger cyber security governance and infrastructure.This increased demand for cyber security services has also resulted in new job opportunities for experts in the field. According to a report conducted by Cisco, 2016 is expected to witness the creation of one million cyber security jobs globally, with an expected increase to 6 million by the year 2019[1].

With election season fast approaching, the most nerve wracking decision for many individuals in the political sphere, aside from picking a candidate, is ensuring that the electoral cycle runs smoothly and securely. Guaranteeing a free and fair election is top priority, and in order to do so, it is necessary to ensure the security of voting systems and polls.

As cyber security takes its place as the industry to watch for the foreseeable future, discussion surrounding this sector has become a minefield of buzz words and infographics. One of its most talked about—yet least understood—concepts is.

Cybersecurity is without a doubt one of the hottest topics within the world today. It represents both an exciting new frontier and ominous new threat for companies and government entities across all industries, and is growing more and more important by the day. Unfortunately, as is often the case with new technologies and responsibilities, misinformation about cybersecurity runs rampant.Unfamiliarity with the nature of cyberthreats, lack of knowledge of its tools and best practices, and confusion about where management fits in terms of creating a solid infrastructure are all common pitfalls when seeking to create a solid security posture. Here are some common misconceptions and how you can help your company avoid the pitfalls of misinformation in the new age of cybersecurity.

169 million records were compromised in the 781 recorded incidents in 2015.[1] That is more than the population of California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina combined. Numerous companies in a variety of industries were victimized. While the medical and healthcare industry accounted for a staggering two-thirds of all compromises, businesses such as small and large corporations and law firms, suffered the most breaches. So, what exactly happened in 2015? Here is the breakdown of just a few major breaches:

In 2015, the higher education industry experienced 165 security incidents.[1] This year, seven higher education institutions withstood malicious, large-scale data breaches.No higher education institution of any size or prestige is immune to security threats.[2] A compromised security infrastructure can cripple reputation and moreover, result in financial loss.

Last year the U.S. government faced what is believed to be the largest cyberattack, as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) discovered an intrusion into personal information of more than 4 million current and former federal employees, according to a recent OPM press release.